He also brought actor Sidney Poitier on stage to share the moment with him, calling the movie legend “a man who gave so much of his own life to redirect the ship of racial hatred in American culture.”

Irish actress Maureen O’Hara received a standing ovation as she headed to the podium in her wheelchair. The 94 year old was handed her honorary Oscar by Clint Eastwood and Liam Neeson, while Nicole Kidman paid tribute via video message.

Honors were also handed out to Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki and French screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere.

Other guests at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland included Keira Knightley, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Redmayne, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux, Emily Blunt and her husband John Krasinski and director Ron Howard.